AFP: Kikuchi says Japanese actresses don't have to be weak

Rinko Kikuchi, who won an Oscar nomination for her portrayal of a sexually precocious schoolgirl in "Babel," insists that Japanese actresses don't have to look weak. The 26-year-old, who was virtually unknown a year ago, said she grew up wondering why Japanese actresses rarely made it big overseas. "But then, I've been told it's because Japanese actresses look weak and diluted on celluloid--they're often uncomfortable about coming on strong," Kikuchi told the Japan Times. AFP reports.

Rinko Kikuchi, who won an Oscar nomination for her portrayal of a sexually precocious schoolgirl in "Babel," insists that Japanese actresses don't have to look weak. The 26-year-old, who was virtually unknown a year ago, said she grew up wondering why Japanese actresses rarely made it big overseas. "But then, I've been told it's because Japanese actresses look weak and diluted on celluloid--they're often uncomfortable about coming on strong," Kikuchi told the Japan Times. AFP reports.